Tailoring of Mechanical Properties in Microlaminates

Abstract

ABSTRACTA multiscalar approach is used to demonstrate the ability to control strength and toughness in microlaminates composed of molybdenum and tungsten. Here, two different thickness scales are utilized; an alternating stack of molybdenum and tungsten layers having thicknesses on the nanometer scale are combined with a layer of molybdenum having a thickness on the micron scale. The stack of thin layers acts as a strong phase and the thick layer acts as a tough phase. Multilayers of two configurations were fabricated which had total thicknesses of 31μm and 50μm. The tough phase thickness was 5μm for the 31μm multilayer and 1μm for the other. The strong phase contained a stack of 29 alternating 4nm thick layers of molybdenum and tungsten. Uniaxial tensile testing was performed using a standard Instron tensile testing machine, followed by optical analysis of specimen fracture surfaces. Fracture toughness ranged from 2.4 to 9.5MPa(m)1/2, and tensile strengths were observed from 126MPa to 883MPa. Control of mechanical properties was demonstrated by an increase in the upper bound fracture toughness from 2.7 to 9.5MPa(m)1/2when the tough layer thickness was increased from 1μm to 5μm.